FORT MYERS - As Bobby Jenks reached for a pair of red socks with the number "52" scribbled on the toes, he knocked the jersey in his locker off its hanger. He picked up the Red Sox top and put it neatly back into place; it's his first one not sporting a Chicago White Sox logo in six years.

Even after a largely successful stint as the closer in Chicago, Jenks may have slipped in through the back door of the Red Sox clubhouse as fellow newcomers Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez garnered most of the offseason attention in Boston.

Whatever words may have been exchanged — through the press or otherwise — between Jenks and his former club, he insists it's all behind him now. As the Red Sox pitchers and catchers held their first workout of spring training on Tuesday, the tone in Jenks' voice seemed refreshed by his new opportunity as a setup man for closer Jonathan Papelbon.

"It's a lot of names to take in at once. It's definitely a process getting to know everyone," Jenks said. "I felt like my time in Chicago was spent well. Things just didn't work out. That's part of the game, but in my heart and in my mind there's no animosity or hard feelings."

Jenks appeared in 55 games last season, and converted 27 of 31 save opportunities but finished the year with a 4.44 ERA — the worst of his career. With a decision to make between the 29-year-old and a stable of relief pitchers, the White Sox chose to find a closer in one of the players already under contract, rather than offering Jenks a new one.

Among those in line to assume Jenks' former position is Florida Gulf Coast University product Chris Sale, who saved four games in 21 appearances at the end of last season. There is also speculation that the lefty could start some games this year if Jake Peavy is slow to recover from an injury that limited him to 17 starts in 2010.

"Obviously, it just comes down to what they think was best for the team. If they think that he is a better fit in whatever position, that's their choice," Jenks said of Sale. "You just have to go with the flow and make the right decision for myself."

Beyond that, the White Sox are now just a part of Jenks' past. Already some have looked to the end of 2011 when Papelbon could potentially become a free agent. Jenks signed a two-year, $12 million deal that at the very least gives Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein options for the future.

"(Jenks) is a guy that has proven himself as one of the better relievers in the game and because of the market dynamic he was available to us in a setup role this year," Epstein said. "We like his aggressiveness, his arm strength and his ability to get swings and misses as well as ground balls."

While there is no inclination that Jenks is a threat to displace Papelbon in ninth innings, he certainly has big-game experience from Chicago's American League Central rivalry with the Minnesota Twins. However, as outspoken as he's been in his excitement to play in Boston, he's been equally as unflappable when talking about his new job as a setup man.

"I knew my role coming in, and I'm here for a reason," he said. "I'm just excited for the opportunity."